An estimated 1,200 job seekers flocked to State Farm's job fair in Tempe Wednesday, and many are also expected to attend Goodwill of Central Arizona's event today

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From noon to 4 p.m, more than 40 employers will be on hand at Goodwill's job fair at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 4400 S. Rural Rd., Tempe.

State Farm is expanding operations in the Phoenix area and filling hundreds of positions in customer service, sales, claims, information technology and underwriting. The company now has about 4,000 Arizona employees, and is expecting to double that to 8,000, according to spokesman Victor Hugo Rodriguez.

Miguel Mendez, 40, of Gilbert, said his fiancé has worked at State Farm 11 years. "I'm looking for a second family," Mendez said. "A job is like a family."

An estimated 1,200 job seekers flocked to State Farm's job fair in Tempe Wednesday, and many others are expected to attend Goodwill of Central Arizona's hiring event today.

From noon to 4 p.m, more than 40 employers will be on hand at Goodwill's job fair at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 4400 S. Rural Rd., Tempe.

One of them will be Banner Health, Arizona's largest private employer. Banner health offered jobs to 166 applicants after holding eight Environmental Services/Facilities support hiring events at Goodwill Centers, according to a company spokesman.

State Farm is expanding operations in the Phoenix area and filling hundreds of positions in customer service, sales, claims, information technology and underwriting.

The company now has about 4,000 Arizona employees, and is expecting to double that to 8,000, according to spokesman Victor Hugo Rodriguez.

"This is a hub and we will be serving customers throughout the United States," Rodriguez said Wednesday at the job fair.

A new State Farm building was built near ASU Sun Devil Stadium and the ASU Athletic Facilities District. It will serve as a hub for claims, service and sales support.

Those waiting on line at the populous event ranged from the recently unemployed to those wishing to change careers.

Carol Dittmar, 58, of Phoenix was recently laid off from her position as an administrative position at a bank. Asked what she wanted from State Farm, she echoed several others by responding, "an opportunity for a full-time job, with benefits. That's the key."

Miguel Mendez, 40, of Gilbert, said his fiancé has worked at State Farm 11 years. "I'm looking for a second family," Mendez said. "A job is like a family."

Rodriguez touted State Farm's employee training and retention rates and the fact that even part-time workers get benefits.

More than 40 employers at Goodwill's job fair

Attending companies Include:

APAC

Banner Health

CyraCom International

The Home Depot

Pride Group

Modern Industries

Job Examiner

Bridgestone

Charles Shwab

DSW

Pro Em

Special Devices Inc.

Arizona Multi Housing Association

Hubbard Radio

Mobile Mini

US Army

Global Tranz

Manpower

Maricopa Community Colleges

Rescare Home Care

Revana

United States Postal Service

Meanwhile, slightly more Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, up about 8,000. Read about it here.

More than a dozen Arizona employers were hiring 100 or more in May. For more information, click here.